Introduction to Science and its methods – PART 2

Fausto Giunchiglia

Thanks to R.Brandtweiner

Literature:

Robert V. Smith. Graduate Research, 1998

Jeffrey A. Lee. The scientific endeavor, 2000

Index:1. Science … and Engineering2. Tasks of Science3. Languages and Models4. The philosophy of Science

4.1 Scientific methods4.2 Syllogism4.3 Empiricism4.4 Positivism4.5 Popper: Principle of Falsification4.6 Beyond positivism and Falsification4.7 Kuhn: scientific paradigms

5. The Comunity of scientists6. Misconduct in Science

5. The Comunity of scientists

“A Goal of science is to achieve

consensus over the widest

possible field”

The Community of Scientists

Science as a social institution. The goal of science is a consensus of rational opinion over the widest possible field.

But there are constraints

• Education

• Tradition

• Sequence of gaining knowledge – existing theories (paradigm) may limit perception

The Community of Scientists

Scientific norms

• Communism

• Universalism

• Disinterestedness

• Originality

• Skepticism

Communism:

• scientific knowledge is the property of everyone

• scientists have to publish their results

Scientific norms

Universalism:

• no privileged sources of scientific knowledge

• the only criterion is competence

Scientific norms

Disinterestedness:

• refers to a lack of bias or a lack of self-interest

• is not the same as being uninterested

Scientific norms

Originality:

• work should be original

Scientific norms

Skepticism:

• Scientists are critical

• Skepticism as peer review

Scientific norms

Instruments

• Invisible colleges• Peer review• Reward System

Invisible Colleges (communication networks):• Journals• Conferences• Projects• …

Instruments

Peer Review:• independent peers review the paper• accept or reject it

… almost never a perfect process

Instruments

Reward System:• Recognition among peers• Invited Talks• Program Chair of Conferences• Community Prizes• Top Prizes• Salary• Contract money

Instruments

6. Misconduct in Science

In Science integrity is the most

important thing

Misconduct in Science

• Easy to say• Hard to do• Science punishes misconduct

Scientific Commandments:Be HonestNever manipulate dataBe preciseBe fair with regard to priority and ideasBe without bias with regard to the data and ideas of your rivalDo not make compromises in trying to solve a problem

Hans Mohr, 1979

Misconduct in Science

Examples:

• Fraud

Misconduct in Science

Fabrication[make up data results]

Falsification[change data results]

• Plagiarism: use of someone’s else words (ideas, pictures, …) without giving proper credit

Misconduct in Science

Misconduct in Science

• Conflict of Interest: avoid personal issues• Paper of a friend• Paper of a competing group

• Failing to retain research data for a reasonable period• Maintaining inadequate research records• Refusing to give peers access to research materials• Inappropriate statistic to enhance the significance of

research findings• Inadequately supervising research subordinates• Misrepresenting speculations as fact• Releasing results without providing sufficient data• Selective reporting of research• Interference• Self-plagiarism

Questionable Research Practices

In Science the Honesty is the key issue…

Misconduct in Science

… otherwise …

… we loose the game badly

How to do research

Fausto Giunchiglia

Literature:

Robert V. Smith. Graduate Research, 1998

Jeffrey A. Lee. The scientific endeavor, 2000

By Fausto Giunchiglia and Alessandro Tomasi

Index:

1. Research and Scholarship2. Factors for success

2.1 Attitude2.2 Commitment2.3 Creativity

3. Making Choices3.1 Types of research3.2 Advisor3.3 Programs of Study3.4 Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary

4. Time Management4.1 Set Goals4.2 Make a todo list4.3 Time Wasters

5. PHD Thesis5.1 Choosing a scientific problem5.2 Timing of PHD

1. Research and Scholarship

Research and Scholarship

Two dimensions:

1. do research:= Vertical Dimension

2. achieve scholarship:= Horizontal Dimension

You must make time for each!!!

Computer

Networks Multimedia

Communications Software

Engineering Knowledge

Management

Vertical dimension

Horizontal dimension

Research and Scholarship

New ideas may come

from boundary between areas

Research and Scholarship